One of life’s persistent mysteries is why so many great restaurants serve such utterly crappy espresso. Chefs know how important first and last impressions are. They go out of their way to surprise you with dessert, they even give you little cakes for breakfast the next day, and then they serve you some brew that’s half-way between Folgers and bile. That’s just not smart, given that a consistently decent (not great!) espresso requires a capital investment of $500 and has variable costs of about $0.50. But there is hope. In fact, there might even be salvation. If you happen to be in the East Village (hell, if you happen to be within 250 miles of the city), make sure to visit Ninth Street Espresso. These guys positively know what they are doing. Here’s proof (Triple Cappuccino, $3.50/cup.)
